Edward Scicluna requests EP's protection

Labour MEP Edward Scicluna has requested the European Parliament’s protection to defend his right to freedom of speech.

Prof. Scicluna told the plenary last night that he had been accused, on three occasions of breaking, the law, and a television station was fined for screening his reports from the EP.

The Broadcasting Authority had fined Smash TV because of the TV programme l-MEP u Int, which featured Prof Scicluna in a one-to-one interview regarding his work as an MEP.

He said that although the Malta Broadcasting Authority, as the regulator, was legally required to ensure political balance across private television stations, this did not request that every individual programme be balanced to prevent someone from expressing their opinion on public policy issues.

Prof. Scicluna warned that the BA’s rulings had caused a backlash in Malta. He said:

"Most Maltese people, especially young people, had high aspirations from EU membership with respect to democratic values, but are now disappointed to see that censorship is rearing its ugly head."